Arwain will replace Academi Wales and focus on improving leadership, skills and cooperation across Welsh public services

THE WELSH GOVERNMENT has announced the creation of a new national school of government aimed at strengthening leadership and improving the delivery of public services across Wales.

Arwain will build on the work of Academi Wales and provide training and development for current and future leaders throughout the Welsh public sector.

The initiative was announced on Friday (July 17) by Dafydd Trystan Davies MS, Cabinet Minister for Government Effectiveness and the Constitution, as part of the Welsh Government’s commitments for its first 100 days in office.

Mr Davies said Arwain would promote a “One Wales Public Service” approach, encouraging organisations to work together across institutional boundaries to deliver better outcomes for communities.

He said: “Through Arwain, we will establish the centre of excellence for leadership and capability.

“Rooted in the Welsh context and grounded in a One Wales Public Service ethos, it will support current and future leaders with the skills, confidence and shared purpose needed to lead change, strengthen delivery and improve outcomes for the people of Wales.”

Owen Evans, His Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales, will chair the new Arwain Steering Board.

The Welsh Government said Mr Evans would bring senior leadership and public-service experience to the organisation during its early development.

Members of the steering board will help shape Arwain’s work and promote it across public-sector bodies in Wales.

Further details about its programmes, structure and launch timetable are expected to be announced at a later date.

Police appeal for witnesses and footage after fatal crash on B4313 at Redstone

A MOTORCYCLIST has died following a collision on the B4313 near Redstone, Narberth.

The crash happened at around 3.10pm on Thursday (July 16) and involved a grey Nissan Qashqai and a blue Suzuki GSXR motorcycle.

Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed on Friday morning that the motorcycle rider, a 51-year-old man, died at the scene.

His family is being supported by specially trained officers.

No other injuries were reported.

The B4313 Redstone Road was closed in both directions following the collision, with access restricted from Penblewin Roundabout while specialist officers examined the scene.

The closure also caused delays in the surrounding area, including on the A40.

The road reopened at around 3am on Friday (July 17), almost 12 hours after the collision.

Police are now appealing for witnesses and are particularly keen to hear from anyone who was travelling in the area at the time.

Officers would also like to obtain any dash-cam, CCTV or doorbell footage that may assist the investigation.

Information can be provided to Dyfed-Powys Police online, by emailing [email protected] or by calling 101.

Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Quote reference DP-20260716-302.

Six of Wales’ seven health boards failed to balance their books as funding fell in real terms

NHS WALES recorded an annual deficit of £199 million last year, despite receiving what Audit Wales described as record investment in the health service.

The watchdog’s audit of NHS bodies’ accounts for 2025-26 found that six of Wales’ seven health boards again failed to meet their legal duty to break even over a rolling three-year period.

The combined three-year deficit across NHS Wales increased to £506 million, up from £457 million the previous year.

NHS Wales received £11.76 billion in revenue funding during 2025-26, an increase of £198 million compared with 2024-25 and around £2 billion more than it received in 2021-22.

However, once inflation was taken into account, funding was 1.5% lower in real terms than in the previous financial year.

Audit Wales said increasing demand, rising pay and other day-to-day costs meant financial pressures were not being brought under control.

The annual deficit was £75 million higher than the £124 million shortfall recorded in 2024-25.

The accounts of all 12 NHS bodies were found to present their financial positions fairly. However, the Auditor General qualified his regularity opinion for the six health boards that failed to break even because they had exceeded their legal authority to spend.

Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board was the only health board to meet its three-year break-even duty.

However, the Auditor General issued a separate qualified regularity opinion for the health board because one senior officer had been paid above remuneration levels set by the Welsh Government.

All three NHS trusts met their three-year break-even duty.

The two special health authorities, Health Education and Improvement Wales and Digital Health and Care Wales, are required to break even annually and both did so.

Agency spending falls sharply

Audit Wales highlighted a significant reduction in spending on agency staff.

Agency expenditure fell to £128 million in 2025-26, representing a 61% reduction compared with its peak in 2022-23.

Around 73% of agency spending was used to cover staff vacancies, while approximately 15% supported additional activity aimed at meeting demand for services.

NHS bodies reported making £256 million in savings during the year, just £3 million more than in 2024-25.

However, Audit Wales warned that recurring savings had fallen and had been outweighed by increased reliance on one-off measures.

One-off savings can include delaying projects or expenditure, while recurring savings result from permanent changes such as more efficient working practices or securing goods and services at lower prices.

The watchdog said the NHS remained too dependent on savings that could not be repeated in future years.

It warned that the current savings profile was not enough to stem the tide of rising demand and other cost pressures, including staff pay.

Most health boards unable to produce balanced plans

Health boards and NHS trusts are also required to prepare Welsh Government-approved three-year plans setting out how they will deliver services within the funding available.

Only one health board, Cwm Taf Morgannwg, had its plan approved, doing so for the second consecutive year.

All three NHS trusts also secured approval for their plans.

Audit Wales said the inability of most health boards to produce financially balanced plans meant the overall NHS deficit was unlikely to improve in the near future.

It warned that continuing financial pressure could push NHS organisations towards short-term decisions aimed at managing the immediate annual position rather than delivering longer-term reform.

The watchdog called for greater emphasis on prevention, whole-system change and long-term planning to safeguard the financial future of the health service.

Auditor General Adrian Crompton said the accounts showed financial pressure within the NHS was continuing despite repeated increases in cash funding.

He said: “The picture painted by those accounts is of financial pressure on the NHS that is not being contained, let alone reversed.

“That has been a persistent pattern during my eight-year term, compounded by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and rising demand.

“As I have pointed out previously, this is despite the Senedd passing the NHS Finance (Wales) Act 2014, more than a decade ago, to set the financial and planning duties that NHS bodies are expected to meet.

“Turning the tide on NHS spending will not be easy, but turn it must.

“For the NHS, as for public services in general, a much sharper and relentless focus on the delivery of value for money is needed, alongside a mindset shift to one focused on prevention and the longer term.”

Audit Wales has also published an updated NHS Wales Finances Data Tool containing further details about the financial performance of individual NHS organisations.